Electronic apparatus and method of selectively applying security mode in mobile device

ABSTRACT

A mobile device is configured to photograph an object and includes a user interface having a display panel to display an image and a touch panel to receive a user command, a network interface to wirelessly communicate with an external network, a memory to store a password and data for operations of the mobile device, and a control unit to control the user interface, the network interface, and the memory to perform a first process during a normal mode, and to perform a second operation during a power saving mode. The first process includes setting an area condition and a wireless communication condition. The second process includes unlocking the mobile device according to the area condition and the wireless communication condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application is a divisional applicationunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 of a U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No.16/679,181, filed Nov. 9, 2019, which is a divisional application Ser.No. 16/402,275 filed May 3, 2019, Now U.S. Pat. No. 10,511,975, which isa divisional application of a U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No.16/166,078 filed Oct. 20, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,299,133, which is adivisional application of a U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No.16/127,286 filed on Sep. 11, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,149,164, whichis a continuation application of a U.S. non-provisional application Ser.No. 15/984,375 filed on May 20, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,085,151 whichis a continuation application of a U.S. non-provisional application Ser.No. 15/972,135 filed on May 5, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,111,098, whichis a divisional application of a U.S. non-provision patent applicationSer. No. 15/853,870 filed on Dec. 25, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,973,929,which is a continuation application of U.S. non-provisional applicationSer. No. 15/297,069, filed on Oct. 18, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.10,064,056, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/181,728, filed on Feb.17, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,509,822, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 1. Field of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept relates to an electronic apparatus andmethod of selectively applying a security mode in a mobile device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional electronic mobile device, for example, a cellular phone,is set to a security mode or a non-security mode. When the set securitymode is set, a user has to input a security code by enter a password, animage, or a geniture though a user interface unit. That is, a user hasto input the security code every time to access the mobile device setwith the security mode.

Even if a user is in a security safe zone, the user has to enter thesecurity code previously set in the security mode. In order for the userto avoid inconvenience in the security safe zone, a user has to disablethe security mode to avoid any inconvenience to enter the security code,and then later enable the security mode.

Moreover, since the mobile device is accessed only with the securitycode set in the security mode, no one is allowed to access the mobiledevice without the set security code. That is, a person having a highpriority or authorization to access the mobile device cannot access themobile device of a person having a lower priority or authorization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

The present inventive concept provides an electronic apparatus toselectively apply a security mode in a mobile device.

The present inventive concept provides a method of selectively applyinga security mode in a mobile device.

The present inventive concept provides a computer readable medium tocontain computer readable codes as a program to execute a method ofselectively applying a security mode in a mobile device.

Additional features and utilities of the present inventive concept willbe set forth in part in the description, which follows and, in part,will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice ofthe present inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the presentinventive concept may be achieved by providing a mobile device which isconfigured to photograph an object and includes a user interfacecomprising a display panel to display an image and a touch panel toreceive a user command, a network interface to wirelessly communicatewith an external network, and a control unit having a computer-readablemedium to control the user interface and the network interface, toperform a first process during a normal mode, and to perform a secondoperation during a power saving mode, wherein the first process includessetting a location of mobile device as an area condition and setting acommunication between the network interface and the external network asa wireless communication condition, and the second process includesunlocking the mobile device according to the area condition and thewireless communication condition.

The first process may include displaying a menu image and receiving theuser command through the user interface to set the wirelesscommunication condition.

The first process may include displaying a plurality of external devicesand receiving the user command through the user interface to set atleast one of the external devices as the external network of thewireless communication condition.

The first process may include displaying a menu image on the displaypanel and receiving the user command through the touch panel to set thearea condition and the wireless communication condition.

The first process may include displaying a state section and a menusection, the menu section may include a plurality of icon images on thedisplay panel, and the icon images may include a first icon to set thearea condition and a second icon to set the wireless communicationcondition.

The first process may include displaying a plurality of icon images onthe display panel, and the icon images may include a first icon to setthe area condition and a second icon to set the wireless communicationcondition.

The first process may include displaying a first icon to set the areacondition and a second icon to set the wireless communication condition.

The first process may include displaying a menu image at a user-fingerreachable area on the display panel such that a finger of a user handholding the mobile device reaches the menu image to set the areacondition or the wireless communication condition.

The first process may include displaying a menu image on the displaypanel to set the location of the mobile device as the area condition.

The area condition may include an area defined by a line on a diagram.

The location of the mobile device may be disposed within a line of adiagram.

The area condition may include an area representing at least one of ahome location and a work location.

The first process may include setting the area condition when thenetwork interface wirelessly communicates with the external device inthe wireless communication condition.

The first process may include recognizing the area condition inaccordance with the wireless communication condition.

The area condition may be set after the wireless communication conditionis set.

The first process may further include receiving a password before thearea condition is set or edited.

The external network may include a WiFi Device.

The external network may include a carrier service station.

The external network may include a combination of external devices.

The external network may include a second mobile device having a seconduser interface and a second network interface and communicating with thenetwork interface.

The external network may include a second mobile device having atelephone number and communicating with the network interface.

The external network may include at least one of a medical device, avehicle, and a home appliance to communicate with the network interface.

The mobile device may include a switch, and the second process mayfurther include detecting an operation of the switch to change the modeof the mobile device.

The mobile device may include a sensor to sense at least one of a motionof the mobile device, a motion of a user, an image of a user, and thesecond process further comprises detecting an operation of the sensor tochange a mode of the mobile device.

The second process may include determining whether the mobile device isin the area condition and the wireless communication condition duringthe power saving mode, and unlocking the mobile device to access thenormal mode according to the determination.

The second process may include determining whether the mobile device isin the area condition when the mobile device is in the wirelesscommunication condition, during the power saving mode, and unlocking themobile device to access the normal mode according to the determination.

The second process may include receiving a password to unlock the mobiledevice when the mobile device is not in the area condition.

The second process may further include receiving a password to unlockthe mobile device when the mobile device is not in the wirelesscommunication condition.

The control unit may perform a pre-process to set a password during thenormal mode through the user interface, and the first process mayfurther include receiving the password before the area condition is setor edited.

The control unit may perform a pre-process to set a password during thenormal mode, and the first process is performed after the pre-process.

The mobile device may be unlocked by a time condition, in which themobile device is at a predetermined time, and a signal condition inwhich the mobile device receives a predetermined signal from theexternal device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic terminal tocommunicate with external devices according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electronic terminal according to anembodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIGS. 3A-3D are views illustrating an electronic terminal with a displayunit and a user interface unit according to an embodiment of the presentinventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selectively applying asecurity process in a mobile device according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selectively applying asecurity process in a mobile device according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept;

FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating a method of setting a condition fora safe zone in a password setting mode of a mobile device according toan embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 6B is a flowchart illustrating a method of setting a condition fora non-safe zone in a non-password mode of a mobile device according toan embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIGS. 7A through 7I are views illustrating screens of a mobile device toset a condition in a mobile device according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept;

FIGS. 8A through 8F are views illustrating screens of a mobile device toperform operations in a safe zone and in a non-safe zone according to anembodiment of the present inventive concept; and

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a mobile device to display a user inputmenu within a user finger-reaching area according to an embodiment ofthe present inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to thelike elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described belowin order to explain the present general inventive concept whilereferring to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic terminal apparatus 110 to communicatewith one or more external apparatuses according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept. The electronic terminal apparatus 110 may bea computer apparatus, a portable personal computer, a mobile electronicdevice, a mobile phone, a mobile tablet apparatus, a mobile tabletcomputing apparatus, an audio or video recording and/or reproducingapparatus, a photographing apparatus, a communication device, etc.

The external apparatus may be an access point (AP) 120 such as awireless access point device to connect to a wired network using WiFi,WiFi direct, or related standards, a device 130 such as a Bluetoothdevice or radio frequency identification (RFID) device, etc, and astation 140 for wireless communication such as a carrier service stationfor 4G, LTE, etc. However, the present general inventive concept is notlimited thereto. It is possible that the external apparatus may beanother electronic apparatus. It is also possible that the externalapparatus may be an apparatus to communicate with the terminal 110 totransmit and receive data therebetween, and such an apparatus may be ahome appliance, such as a refrigerator or air conditioner.

The terminal 110 may be disposed within an area defined by a line 120Adistanced from the AP 120 or an area defined by a line 130A distancedfrom the device 130. The terminal 110 may communicate with the AP 120using the AP-related technology when being disposed within the areadefined by the line 120A, and may also communicate with the device 130using the device-related technology when being disposed within the areadefined by the line 130A.

The terminal 110 may have menus and/or functions to correspond to data(signal) of the AP 120, the device 130, and the station 140. Theterminal 110 may have menus and functions to correspond to data (signal)stored in a storage unit of the terminal 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic terminal accordingto an embodiment of the present inventive concept. The terminal mayinclude a control unit 210, a network interface 220, a user interface230, a display unit 240, an audio unit 250, one or more functional unit260, a power supply unit 270 including a battery and a battery chargingunit. The above components may be disposed in or on a housing of theterminal.

The control unit 210 may control operations of the terminal and mayinclude a data storage unit, for example, a semiconductor memory unit.The control unit 210 may be connected to an external data storage unitdisposed in the housing. The housing of the terminal may include a portsuch that another external data storage can be detachably attached tothe port of the housing, and the port may be connected to the controlunit 110 to transmit and receive data.

The network interface unit 220 may communicate with an external networkapparatus, for example, the AP 120, the device 130, and the station 140which are illustrated in FIG. 1.

The user interface unit 230 may receive a user input to controloperations of the terminal. The user interface unit 230 may include aphysical button or key board such as QWERTY keyboard. The user interfaceunit 230 may have a sensor to detect a user gesture as a user input. Theuser interface unit 230 may include a microphone to detect a user voiceas a user input. The user interface unit 230 may be a sensor to detectan image as a user input. The display unit 240 may include a screen todisplay an image corresponding to operations of the terminal. Thedisplay unit 240 may include a panel or a touch screen to perform afunction to display an image and also a function to receive a userinput. The user interface unit 230 and the display unit 240 may beformed as a single integrated body. The audio unit 250 may be a speakerand/or a microphone.

The functional unit 260 may be a photographing unit to photograph anobject and to generate a signal corresponding to the photographingobject. The signal may be processed in the control unit 210, displayedin the display unit 240, and/or transmitted to the external apparatusthrough the network interface unit 220.

The power supply unit 270 may be connectable to an external power sourceusing a wired and/or wireless method.

The control unit 210 is configured to selectively perform a securitymode according to a condition set by a user when the terminal receives auser input corresponding to a power-on, an activation mode in responseto a deactivation mode, a wake-up mode in response to a sleep mode,and/or a normal mode in response to a power-saving mode. The activation,wake-up, and normal mode may be usable as a common function of theterminal or may be usable differently, according to a design or userpreference. The condition may be a safe zone condition in a securitymode or may be a non-safe zone in a non-security mode, for example.After the condition is set in a normal mode of the terminal, theterminal is changed to the deactivation mode (the sleep mode or thepower-saving mode) a predetermined time after the normal mode or apredetermined time after no user input. And then the terminal provides aprocess for the security mode or does not provide the process for thesecurity mode according to the condition when being changed to theactivation mode (wake-up mode or the normal mode) according to the userinput.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrating an electronic terminal 300 formed with adisplay unit and a user interface unit to display screens 300A-300Dcorresponding to operations of the electronic terminal 300 according toan embodiment of the present inventive concept.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the screen 300A of the terminal 300 A doesnot show an image according to a deactivation mode, a sleep mode, or apower saving mode. The terminal 300 may have a power switch 311 and aswitch 312 as a user input. The power switch 311 may be usable to turnon and off the terminal, and the switch 312 may be usable to change amode of the terminal 300, that is, to change from the deactivation mode,the sleep mode, or the power saving mode to an activation mode, awake-up mode, or a normal mode. The switch 312 may be a sensor to detecta motion of the terminal 300 or to detect a motion (image) of a user asa user input.

When the switch 312 of FIG. 3A is selected, the screen 300B of FIG. 3Bmay be displayed on a display unit to unlock or select a securityprocess to access the terminal 300 in a security mode. The screen 300 bmay include a state section 321 and a menu section 322. The statesection 321 may include a communication state with the AP 120, thedevice 130, and/or the station 321 of FIG. 1, and may also include otherstates corresponding to operations or functions set in the terminal 300or environment around the terminal 300. The other states may include atime display or a battery state display, a temperature state display, aweather state display, etc. When the terminal 300 is in a power-onstate, the terminal monitors, detects, determines, and/or performscommunications with external devices to correspond to theabove-described states of the state section 321.

When a menu 322A to unlock the terminal 300 is selected from the screen300 b, the screen 300C is displayed to show a security check process,for example, a password input process, as illustrated in FIG. 3C. Thescreen 300C may include a state section 331 and a menu section 332having a password indication section 332A and a password input section332B. When a password input by the user through the password inputsection 332B is identical to a password previously stored therein, theterminal 300 displays the screen 300D to show a state section 341 and amenu section 342 with menus (or icons) 342A.

When a first predetermined condition is set in the terminal 300 as asafe zone in a security mode (password setting mode), the screen 300A ischanged to the screen 300D without displaying the screens 300B and 300Cwhen the first predetermined condition is met. When the firstpredetermined condition is not met, the terminal displays the screens300B and 300C to require a security process to enter a password. When asecond predetermined condition is set in the terminal 300 as a non-safezone in a non-security mode (no password setting), the terminal displaysthe screens 300A, 300B, 300C, and 300D to normally access the terminalwhen the second predetermined condition is met. When the secondpredetermined condition is not met, the terminal 300 may not display thescreens 300B and 300C.

The state section 341 of the screen 300D may include an imagecorresponding to the safe zone and/or the non-safe zone according to thesecurity mode and/or non-security mode, respectively. The state section341 may not be selectable by a user as a user input. The menu section342 of the screen 300D may include one or more menus 342A selectable bya user as a user input to perform a function or operation of theterminal 300. The menu section 342 of the screen 300D may include asettings menu (icon) to set the security mode, the non-security mode,the safe zone, and/or the non-safe zone, etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of selectively applying a security mode in amobile device according to an embodiment of the present inventiveconcept.

A power-on or activation switch is on in operation 410, a control unitof the mobile device determines whether a predetermined condition is metin operation 420. When the predetermined condition is met, that is, themobile device is in a safe zone, the mobile device operates a normalmode in operation 430 such that a user can access the mobile device.When the predetermined condition is not met in operation 420, that is,the mobile device is not in the safe zone, the mobile device requires auser to enter a password in operation 440 to authorize the user toaccess of the mobile device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of selectively applying a security mode in amobile device according to an embodiment of the present inventiveconcept

A predetermined condition is set in the mobile device in operation 510.When an activation switch is selected in operations 520A or 520B, asecurity mode is not performed to enter a normal mode in operation 530or the security mode is performed in operation 540 when thepredetermined condition is not met in operation 510. That is, the mobiledevice selectively performs the security mode according to selection ofan activation switch as a user input. The mobile device selectivelyrequires a user to perform the security mode. For example, when themobile device is in a safe zone according to the predeterminedcondition, the user is not required to process the security mode toenter a password. However, the mobile device is not in the safe zoneaccording to the predetermined condition, the user is still required toprocess the security mode to enter a password. Here, the password may bea character, number, motion, audio, and/or image.

FIG. 6A illustrates a method of setting a condition for a safe zone in apassword setting mode of a mobile device according to an embodiment ofthe present inventive concept

A user selects a settings menu in operation 610, and then selects apassword setting menu in operation 620 to set the mobile device as asecurity (password setting) mode or a non-security (no-password setting)mode.

A predetermined condition for a safe zone is selected in operation 630,and then is set in operation 640.

FIG. 6B illustrates a method of setting a condition for a non-safe zonein a non-password mode of a mobile device according to an embodiment ofthe present inventive concept.

When a user selects a non-security (no-password setting) mode or doesnot set a security mode in the settings menu in operation 650, thesettings menu may further include a menu to select a non-safe zone (orpassword-required zone) in operation 660. The predetermined conditioncan be set in operation 670 such that the mobile device monitors acurrent condition thereof to determine whether the current conditionmeets the predetermined condition. When the predetermined condition ismet, the mobile device requires the user to enter a password to accessthe mobile device in the non-security mode of the mobile device. Whenthe predetermined condition is not met, the mobile device does notrequire the user to enter the password in a similar manner to thenon-security mode.

FIGS. 7A through 7I illustrate screens 700A through 700I of a mobiledevice to set a condition for a safe zone of a security mode or anon-safe zone of a non-security mode according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept.

When a settings menu (button or icon) 710 is selected in the screen 700Aof the mobile device as a user input in FIG. 7A, the screen 700B of FIG.7B is displayed on a display unit and/or user input unit of the mobiledevice to show a selection of “security setting” 721 to set a security(password) as a security mode, a selection of “all” 722 to apply thesecurity mode to all functions or operations of the mobile device, and aselection of a “safe zone” 723 to prevent the security mode in apredetermined condition. It is possible that the selection of “all” 722and selection of “safe zone” 723 may be displayed in a separate screenfrom a screen of the security setting 721, that is, the selection of“all” 722 and selection of “safe zone” 723 may be displayed, performed,or selected independently after the security setting 721 is performed toset the security mode.

When a menu of the safe zone 723 is selected, the screen 700C isdisplayed to show an area menu 731 and/or a time menu 732 as thepredetermined condition. It is possible that both the area menu 731 andthe time menu 732 can be selected and set as the predeterminedcondition. It is also possible that only one of the area menu 731 andthe time menu 732 can be selected and set as the predeterminedcondition.

When the time menu 732 is selected, a specific time or a time period isset as the safe zone, using a new screen. Setting a specific time or atime period is well known, detail descriptions thereof will be omitted.When the time menu is performed to set the predetermined condition ofthe safe zone, the mobile device releases the security mode at thespecific time or during the time period such that the user can accessthe mobile device without the security process according to the set timemenu.

When the area menu 731 is selected, one or more area settings aredisplayed on the screen 700D of FIG. 7D. The one or more area settingsmay include a WiFi selection menu 741, a Bluetooth selection menu 742,and a communication method selection menu 743.

When the WiFi menu 741 is selected, at least one WiFi network 751 can beinput, detected and then displayed, or selected as a safe zone in thescreen 700E of FIG. 7E. When a user with a mobile device stays in ahouse of the user, for example, and an AP is located as a home useinside the house of the user, the AP as a home use may be reliablenetwork and environment to the user and thus the home AP can be set as asafe zone. In this case, the user does not have to enter a passwordevery time to activate or access the mobile device within an accessiblearea of the AP and/or inside the house. However, when a user with amobile device stays away from the AP, the mobile device requires theuser to enter the password since the predetermined condition is not metor the mobile device cannot communicate with the AP or lost a signalfrom the AP.

When the Bluetooth (device) is selected, at least one device 761 can beinput, detected and then displayed, or selected as a safe zone in thescreen 700 f of FIG. 7F. When a user with a mobile device is in avehicle owned by the user, for example, the Bluetooth and/or the vehiclemay be reliable network and environment to the user and thus the devicecan be set as a safe zone. In this case, the user does not have to entera password every time to activate or access the mobile device within anaccess area of the device, that is, within an inside of the vehicle.

It is possible that when a user vehicle is set as the device or the APfor the safe zone and when a signal indicating an emergence, forexample, traffic collision or accident to the vehicle, is generated fromthe vehicle and then transmitted to the mobile device through theBluetooth or WiFi, the mobile device can recognize the received signalas a predetermined condition of a safe zone so that the user can accessand/or use the mobile device without entering a password in the securitymode of the mobile device. Here, the vehicle and the mobile device areconfigured to recognize the signal as a portion of the predeterminedcondition of a safe zone. In this case, a combination of the selecteddevice and a specific or predetermined signal from the selected devicecan be set as the safe zone of the mobile device, and when the mobiledevice receives the signal from the device, so that the user can accessor use the mobile device without performing a security check process ina security mode of the mobile device.

It is also possible that when a user medical device is set as the deviceor the AP for the safe zone and when a signal indicating an emergencefor example, a life threatening situation or accident to the user, isgenerated from the medical device and then transmitted to the mobiledevice through the Bluetooth or WIFi, the mobile device can recognizethe received signal as a predetermined condition of a safe zone so thatthe user can access and/or use the mobile device without entering apassword in the security mode of the mobile device. Here, the medicaldevice and the mobile device are configured to recognize the signal as aportion of the predetermined condition of safe zone. In this case, acombination of the selected device and a specific or predeterminedsignal from the selected device can be set as a predetermined conditionof the safe zone of the mobile device, and when the mobile devicereceives the signal from the device, so that the user can access or usethe mobile device without performing a security check process in asecurity mode of the mobile device.

When the communication method 743 is selected, one or more communicationmethods (CMs) 771 and 772 can be selected and set as a safe zone on thescreen 700 g of FIG. 7G. In this case, a carrier name 771 and/ortelephone number 772 can be reliable to the user. That is, when the usercommunicates with the person of the telephone number 772 and the carriername 771, the user does not have to enter a password to use the mobiledevice.

In the screen 700H of FIG. 7H, at least one or a combination of theWifi, Bluetooth, and communication method can be selected and/or set ina menu 781 as safe zone.

When the security mode is not selected or set in the settings menu 710of the screen 700 a, a menu 791 of non-safe zone can be selected and setsuch that the mobile device is set to perform a security mode in anon-security mode of the mobile device. For example, an AP, a device, ora communication method is set as the non-safe zone using one or morenon-safe zone selection processes similar to the safe zone selectionprocesses of FIGS. 7D through 7H.

FIGS. 8A through 8F illustrate screens 800 a through 800 f of a mobiledevice to perform operations in a safe zone and in a non-safe zoneaccording to an embodiment of the present inventive concept

FIG. 8A illustrates the screen 800A, a power on/off switch 811, and anactivation switch 812. FIG. 8B illustrates the screen 800 b including astate section 821 and a menu section 822. The state section 821 may besimilar to the state section 321, 331, and 341 of FIGS. 3B, 3C and 3D.The state section 821 may include a state indicator 821A to indicate apredetermined state and/or a safe zone in a security mode. The statesdisplayed on the state section 821 may not be selectable by a user as auser input. The menu section 822 may include one or more menus 822A and822B which are displayable on a display unit and/or selectable by a useras a user input.

When a current condition matches the predetermined condition as the safezone, the mobile device displays the screen 800B by skipping a securitymode process. It is possible that the mobile device can display on thescreen 800C with a state section 831 and a menu section 832 including atext message 832A and selection menus 832B relating to the displayedtext 832A when the mobile device receives the test message 3832A. It isalso possible that the mobile device can display on the screen 800D witha state section 841 and a menu section 842 including a telephone callmessage 842A including selection menus relating to the telephone callmessage 842A when the mobile device receives the telephone call suchthat the user can access and use the mobile device.

The screen 800E of FIG. 8E illustrates a state section 851 and a menusection 852 including at least one menu 853. The screen 800E may bedisplayed when a password is entered in a security (password-setting)mode, when a predetermined condition of a safe zone is met in thesecurity mode, or when a password is entered in a non-security mode andin a non-safe zone. The menu 853 may be a settings menu to select,change, or modify settings of the mobile device. In this case, it ispossible that the mobile device may require the user to enter a passwordto select, change, or modify settings when the screen 800E is displayedwhen a predetermined condition of a safe zone is met in the securitymode and accordingly a security mode is not preformed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile device 900 to display a state section 911and a user menu section 912 according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept. A user U holds the mobile device 900 usingone hand. At least one of user fingers UF of the user one hand can beusable to select a menu to input a user input. The user menu section 912may include a user menu area 912B and a non-user menu area 912C whichare defined by a line 912A to be a user-finger reachable area and auser-finger unreachable area, respectively. One or more menus or imagesdisplayed within the user menu area can be selectable by a user using afinger without assistance of the other hand finger, and one or moremenus or images displayed within the non-user menu area 912C may not bereachable selectable by the user using the same finger. It is possiblethat the non-user menu area 912C may not include a menu to be selectableby a user as a user input. Accordingly, a user can control the mobiledevice with one hand.

The present general inventive concept can also be embodied ascomputer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. Thecomputer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recordingmedium and a computer-readable transmission medium. Thecomputer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that canstore data as a program which can be thereafter read by a computersystem. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include aread-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a flash memory, asemiconductor chip package, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, andoptical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium canalso be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that thecomputer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves orsignals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through theInternet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments toaccomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily construedby programmers skilled in the art to which the present general inventiveconcept pertains.

As illustrated above, a mobile device can be set in a security mode anda safe zone may be set in the security mode so that the mobile devicedoes not require a user to enter a password when a current conditionmatches a predetermined condition of the safe zone.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplaryembodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of thegeneral inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile device configured to photograph anobject, comprising: a user interface comprising a display panel todisplay an image and a touch panel to receive a user input; a networkinterface to wirelessly communicate with an external network; a memoryto store a password; and a control unit to perform a first operationduring a normal mode, and to perform a second operation during a powersaving mode, wherein: the first operation comprises setting an areacondition representing a location area of the mobile device, and settinga wireless communication condition representing a wireless communicationwith the external network; and the second operation comprises unlockingthe mobile device when the mobile device is in the area condition andthe wireless communication condition.
 2. The mobile device of claim 1,wherein the control unit further performs a third operation of receivingthe password to unlock the mobile device when the mobile device is notin the area condition and the wireless communication condition in thesecond operation.
 3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controlunit further performs a third operation of displaying a security processmenu image on the display panel to receive the password through thetouch panel to unlock the mobile device when the mobile device is not inthe area condition in the second operation.
 4. The mobile device ofclaim 1, wherein the control unit further performs a third operation ofdisplaying a security process menu image on the display panel to receivethe password through the touch panel to unlock the mobile device whenthe mobile device is not in the wireless communication condition in thesecond operation.
 5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein: the controlunit unlocks the mobile device according to the second operation duringthe power saving mode; and the control unit edits the area conditionaccording to the password during the normal mode.
 6. The mobile deviceof claim 1, wherein: the control unit unlocks the mobile deviceaccording to the password during the power saving mode when the mobiledevice is not in the area condition or the wireless communicationcondition in the second operation; and the control unit edits the areacondition according to the password during the normal mode.
 7. Themobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a setting ofthe mobile device according to the password during the normal mode. 8.The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first operation furthercomprises displaying a menu image on the display panel to set the areacondition and the wireless communication condition.
 9. The mobile deviceof claim 1, wherein the first operation further comprises displaying afirst menu image on the display panel to set the area condition and asecond menu image on the display panel to set the wireless communicationcondition.
 10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first operationcomprises: displaying a first menu image on the display panel to set thearea condition according to a first user input through the touch panel;and displaying a second menu image on the display panel to set thewireless communication condition according to a second user inputthrough the touch panel.
 11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein thecontrol unit recognizes the location of the mobile device when themobile device communicates with the external network according to theset wireless communication condition.
 12. The mobile device of claim 1,wherein the control unit sets the location of the mobile device as thearea condition according to the wireless communication condition. 13.The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a home useas the location of the mobile device when an external device of theexternal network is in the home use during the first operation.
 14. Themobile device of claim 1, wherein: the external network comprises awireless device connected to a wired network; and the location of themobile device is recognized as the area condition when the networkinterface wirelessly communicates with the external device in thewireless communication condition.
 15. The mobile device of claim 1,wherein: the external network comprises a wireless device connected to awired network; the wireless device is in a user home; and the controlunit sets a location of the user home as the location of the mobiledevice when the mobile device is in an accessible area of the wirelessdevice.
 16. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein: the external networkis in a user home location; and the control unit recognizes the userhome location as the location of the mobile device when the mobiledevice is in an accessible area of the external network.
 17. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the control unit recognizes a user homelocation as the location of the mobile device according to data of theexternal network in the wireless communication condition.
 18. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the control unit recognizes the location ofthe mobile device according to a location of a wireless device of theexternal network in the wireless communication condition.
 19. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the control unit displays on the displaypanel a number of external devices which are selectable for the wirelesscommunication condition, and selects at least one of the externaldevices as the external network of the wireless communication conditionthrough the touch panel.
 20. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein thefirst operation further comprises displaying a menu image at auser-finger reachable area on the display panel such that a finger of auser hand holding the mobile device reaches the menu image to set thearea condition or the wireless communication condition.
 21. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the first operation comprises setting thewireless communication condition before setting the area condition. 22.The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile devicecomprises an area defined by a line on a diagram.
 23. The mobile deviceof claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile device is within a lineof a diagram, and a location of the external network is within the lineof the diagram.
 24. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the locationof the mobile device is within a line of a diagram, and a location ofthe external network is outside the line of the diagram.
 25. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the external network comprises a carrierservice station wirelessly communicating with the network interface ofthe mobile device.
 26. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein theexternal network comprises a wireless device connected to a wirednetwork for transmission of date to operate the mobile device during thepower saving mode and the normal mode.
 27. The mobile device of claim 1,wherein the external network comprises a second mobile device having asecond user interface, a second network interface, and a second memorystoring a second password.
 28. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein theexternal network comprises a second mobile device having a telephonenumber to wirelessly communicate with the network interface of themobile device.
 29. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the externalnetwork comprises a second mobile device performing operationscorresponding to the operations of the mobile device.
 30. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the external network comprises a secondmobile device having a telephone number, and the control unit receivesthe password through the touch panel to set the second mobile device asthe external network in a setting of the mobile device.
 31. The mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the external network comprises at least oneof a medical device, a vehicle, and a home appliance to wirelesslycommunicate with the network interface.
 32. The mobile device of claim1, further comprising a switch to change a mode of the mobile device,wherein the second operation further comprises detecting an operation ofthe switch to change the mode of the mobile device.
 33. The mobiledevice of claim 1, further comprising a switch to change a mode of themobile device, wherein the second operation comprises unlocking themobile device when the mobile device detects an operation of the switchand when the mobile device is in the area condition and the wirelesscommunication condition.
 34. The mobile device of claim 1, furthercomprising a sensor to sense at least one of a motion of the mobiledevice, a motion of a user, an image of a user, wherein the secondoperation further comprises detecting an operation of the sensor tochange a mode of the mobile device.
 35. The mobile device of claim 1,further comprising a switch to change a mode of the mobile device,wherein the second operation comprises unlocking the mobile deviceaccording to the password and an operation of the switch.
 36. The mobiledevice of claim 1, further comprising a switch to change a mode of themobile device, wherein the second operation comprises changes the powersaving mode to the normal mode according to an operation of the switch.37. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises acomputer-readable medium containing computer-readable codes as a programto execute operations of the mobile device.
 38. The mobile device ofclaim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a computer-readable mediumcontaining computer-readable codes as a program to execute storing datareceived through the user interface and the network interface to executeoperations of the mobile device including the first operation and thesecond operation.
 39. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controlunit comprises a computer-readable medium containing computer-readablecodes as a program to execute data transmission through an internet toexecute operations of the mobile device including the first operationand the second operation.